Apparatus for forming folded reinforcements on box blanks



D. c. ELLINGER 2,775,923

APPARATUS FOR FORMING FOLDED REINFORCEMENTS oN Box BLANKS Jan. l, 195.7

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1955 uw, Nwkmw BVM um. QQ.

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APPARATUS FOR FORMING FOLDED REINFORCEMENTS 0N BOX'BLANKS Filed May 3l, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

III Il I|IILl Jan. l, 1957 D. c. ELLINGER APPARATUS FOR FORMING FOLDED REI-NFORCEMENTS ON BOX BLANKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3l, 1955 lll/IIA VIII lli VIIIIIIIIIII HI llm- IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR FORMING FOLDED REIN- FORCEMENTS N BOX BLANKS Don C. Ellnger, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Downing Box Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 511,910

22 Claims. (Cl. 952-49) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for forming folded reinforcements on box blanks.

In the manufacture of certain types of beer cartons it is common practice to provide the blank with extensions which project beyond the usual upper edge of each end wall, said extensions being provided with spaced parallel lines of scoring defining parallel reinforcing strips which may be folded downwardly on the lines of scoring to produce a multi-ply reinforcement on the inner side of the end wall above the hand hole. Heretofore this folding operation has been done principally by hand, although it is understood that there is a very expensive machine in which the blanks are fed longitudinally, the machine occupying an excessive amount of floor space and being quite complicated.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple machine which takes up a relatively small amount of oor space, in which the blanks may be fed while in a position extending transversely of the direction of movement, there being novel mechanism for folding the various reinforcing strips into reinforcing position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine as above described wherein there is mechanism for applying glue to the proper portions of the blank at a proper time during the travel of the blank through the folding apparatus whereby, when the blank emerges, the plural ply reinforcement will be completely formed and glued in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the mechanism is so arranged that it may be used in duplicate so as to form the reinforcements on both end walls of a box blank simultaneously.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved apparatus for forming folded reinforcements on box blanks, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one complete embodiment of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational View of the improved apparatus, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the preliminary glue applying mechanism and showing the glue pot in elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, omitting the upper frame and supported parts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rst folding member showing a portion of a blank in position just prior to completion of the rst fold;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the second folding member showing a portion of a blank 2,775,923 Patented Jan. l, 1957 ice in position just prior to completion of the second folding operation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the final folding member showing a portion of a blank in position just prior to completion of the final fold; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank of the type used in the machine, showing it about to be operated on by a pair of units.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the apparatus illustrated shows mechanism for forming the folded reinforcement on one end wall only. It is to be understood, however, that the arrangement of parts is such that the mechanism of Fig. 3 may be duplicated so that there are twin mechanisms, one alongside of the other, to operate simultaneously on both end walls of a transversely extending box blank, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numerals 1t? designate the lower longitudinal frame members, one on each side, and the numerals 11, upper longitudinal frame members, one on each side. The frame members are suitably supported from the ioor on any type of leg (not shown). journaled transversely of the frame members 10, in suitable bearings, is a rock shaft 12. Rigidly secured to the rock shaft 12 are first J- shaped folding members 13 each comprising a stem portion and a hooked portion and having a roller 14 at the outer end of its stem portion. A coil spring 15 which surrounds the shaft 12 has one end secured to one of the folding members as at 15. The other end of said spring is suitably secured to the frame.

Referring now to Fig. 4, one end of the shaft 12 carries a rigidly mounted stop member 16 having stop shoulders 17 and 18 for engagement with stop shoulders 19 and 26 of a block 21, the latter being secured to the frame. The result of this arrangement is that the shaft 12 can rock in a counterclockwise direction, referring to Fig. 4, until the stop shoulder 1S engages the stop shoulder 20. The coiled spring 15 insures return of the shaft 12 and folding members 13 to their normal position of Fig. 3.

Rigidly mounted on a shaft 22, which is journaled in the frame members 10 is a roller 23 which is adapted to cooperate with another roller 24 rigidly mounted on a shaft 25, the latter being journaled transversely of the upper frame members 11, as shown in Fig. 1. One end of the shaft 22 projects through its frame member 1i) and carries a rigidly mounted sprocket Wheel 26. Spaced forwardly of the shaft 22 and journaled between the frame members 10 is another shaft 27 carrying a rigidly mounted roller 28. One end of the shaft 27 projects beyond its frame member 10 and carries a rigidly mounted sprocket wheel 29 which is connected by an endless chain 29 with the sprocket wheel 26. The roller 28 coacts with a roller 30 (see Fig. 1) mounted on a shaft 31 which is journaled between the upper frame members 11.

Another roller 32 which is rigidly mounted on a shaft 33, journaled transversely of the frame members 10, coacts with a roller 34 (see Fig. l) rigidly mounted on a shaft 35. The end of the shaft 35 projects outwardly beyond its frame member 11 and carries a rigidly mounted sprocket wheel 36 which is driven from an outside source through an endless chain 37. The lower shaft 33 projects beyond its frame member 1t) and carries a sprocket wheel 3S which is connected by an endless chain 39 with an outside source of power. Another sprocket wheel 40 on the shaft 33 is connected by an endless chain 41 with a sprocket wheel 42 mounted on shaft 2'7 to drive the latter.

Still another sprocket wheel 43 on the shaft 33 is connected by an endless chain 44 with a sprocket wheel 45 rigidly mounted on the shaft 46. The latter is journaled transversely of the frame members 1) as shown in Fig. l, and carries a gear 47 which meshes with a gear 48 mounted on a stud shaft 49. The gear 48 in turn drives a gear Si), the latter being mounted on the shaft of a glue roller 51. The glue roller rotates in a glue pot 52 to pick up glue therefrom. Journalled transversely of the frame members 11 above the glue roller 51 is a shaft 53 carrying an upper pressing roller 54.

lournalled transversely of the frame members and located between the rollers 23 and 28 is a shaft 55 to which intermediate folding members 56 are rigidly connected.

The folding members 56 are also somewhat J-shaped but the outwardly projecting stem portions are shorter in length than the corresponding parts of the folding members 13. At the closed end of each folding mem ber 56 is a slot 57 of a width to freely receive two thicknesses of rboxboard, said slot having substantially parallel sides as shown in Fig. 6. At the outer ends of the folding members 56 are antifriction rollers 58. A coil spring 59 is connected as at 60 to one of the folding members 56 and said spring functions the same as the spring 15 on the shaft 12 to normally return the shaft 55 to the position of Fig. 3. The shaft 55 is provided with a stop member, like the stop member 16 of Fig. 4, which is adapted to coact with a stop block 61 like the stop block 21 of Fig. 4. The outwardly projecting legs of the folding members 56 are designated by the numeral 114. The shorter legs 151) are triangular in shape as shown in Fig. 6, and pivoted to each short leg as at 151 is a linger 152. The finger is normally urged by a spring 153 to the position of Fig. 6, but can yield against the tension of the spring in a direction away from the leg 114, this `being necessary when the folding members have rocked about one-half their distance of movement to avoid damage to the boxboard. After this yielding action the springs return the lingers to normal position to prevent spreading of the folded strips.

Located just rearwardly of the roller 32 is a shaft 62 which is journaled transversely of the frame members 10. Rigidly connected to the shaft 62 are arms 63. A coiled spring 64 surrounding the shaft 62 has one end connected to one of the arms 63 as at 65. The other end of the coil spring is suitably connected to the frame and the springs serve to urge the shaft 62 to the normal position of Fig. 3. Shaft 62 is equipped with a stop member like the stop member 16, in Fig. 4, which coacts with a stop block 66 like the stop block 21 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. l and 7,'the arms 63 are pivotally connected as at 67 with arms 68. The upper ends of the latter are pivotally connected as at 69 with U-shaped folding members 70. The outer end of the upper leg of each U has an anti-friction roller 71, and the lower leg has an angled outer side.

Curved rods 72 each have one end connected to a transverse bar 73 which connects the arms 68. The other ends of the curved rods 72 are'slidable through holes 74 of a bottom bar 75 (see Fig. 3). Coil springs 76 surround the curved rods 72 and are so arranged that when the members 68 jackknife toward the arms 63 the springs '76 are compressed, the rods 72V sliding through the holes 74 of the bar 75.

Near the front end of the apparatus is a vertically slidably mounted glue pot 77 which has racks 78 depending therefrom. A solenoid 79 has a plunger Sil which is pivcted to the outer end of an arm 81. The other end of the arm S1 is secured to a shaft 82 carrying pinions S3. When the solenoid 79 is energized the plunger 8l) is retracted from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2 rocking the shaft 32 so that the pinions 83 push upwardly on the racks 78 enough to move the glue roller 84 from the lowered position of Fig. l to the raised position of Fig. 2. The glue roller is suitablymounted on a shaft 35 which is journaled transversely of the glue pot. One

end of the shaft projects and is provided with a pinion 86, as shown in Fig. 3, which is always in mesh with a pinion 87 mounted on a stud 88 in one of the frame members 10. The pinion 87 is driven by a gear 88 which is mounted on a shaft 89 journaled in suitable bearings depending from the frame members 1t). A sprocket wheel 90 on the shaft S9 is connected by an endless chain 91 withl a sprocket wheel 92 mounted on a shaft 93, the latter being suitably driven by an electric motor 94.

The arrangement of this Erst gluing station is such that the pinion 36 for the gluing roll 84 is always in engagement with the pinion 87, regardless of whether the glue pot is in the lowered position of Fig. l or in the raised position of Fig. 2.

Operation Fig. 8 illustrates a blank for forming a carton for beer or the like. The blank is designated generally by the numeral 95 and includes end walls 96 having hand holes 97. Projecting upwardly from the upper edge of each end wall is an extension 93 having spaced parallel lines of scoring 99, 113) and 101, which define reinforcing strips 169, 110, 111 and 112, whereby a multi-ply reinforcement forthe upper edge of the end wall, above the hand hole 97, may be formed. lt is the purpose of the present machine to form said reinforcement, doing the necessary folding on the lines 99, 119i) and 101.

With an outside source of power in operation, the endless chains 37 and 39 will be driven. The chain 39 will drive the shaft 33. Through the endless chain 44, this will, in turn, cause driving of the sprocket 475, shaft 46 and gear 47. Through the gears 48 and 50 the glue roller 51 will be driven. Driving of the shaft 33 will also, through the sprocket chain 41 and sprocket Wheel 42, cause driving of the shaft 27 and hence the roller 28. inasmuch as the shaft 27 is connected by the sprocket chain 29 with the shaft 22, the latter and roller 23 will also be driven.

Returning again to the right hand end of the machine of Fig. l, the chain 37, which is suitably driven from an outside source, will drive the sprocket wheel 36, shaft 35, and roller 34. The roller 34 is connected by endless belts 162 with the other top rollers 54, 31) and 24.

The box blanks are suitably fed into the left hand end of the machine while positioned transversely thereof so that the edge of the strip 112 leads. In the machine illustrated, one of the strips 112 is centered between the spaced frame members 10. It is to `be understood, however, that for commercial operations, the mechanisms will be duplicated alongside one another as in Fig. 8, with suitable lateral spacing so that the reinforcing strips for both of the end walls 96 may be folded simultaneously.

Any suitable feed mechanism such as kicker mechanism (not shown) and suitably driven feed rolls 154 and 155 may be used to feed blanks into the left hand end of the machine toward the position of Fig. 2, Where the leading edge of the strip 112 enters between the roller 103 and the gluing roller 84, the solenoid 79 being automatically actuated, by any suitable means, at the proper time, to cause raising of the gluing roller 84 from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2 to apply glue to the proper areas of the inner sides of the foldable strips of the blank. The solenoid will also be automatically actuated to lower the gluing roller 2,4 after glue application. Thereafter, the forwardly moving blank will engage the underside of the legs 113 of the rst folding members 13 as at A in Fig. l. As the blank continues to move it will slide along beneath the legs 113 as indicated at B in Fig. l, the hooked ends ofthe folding members serving as stops to limit such sliding movement. The blank also pushes the folding members so that the shaft 12 on which they are mounted will rock against the tension of the spring 15'. When the folding members have been forced by the blanks to rock tothe position C of Fig. l the strip 111, together with the strip 112, will break at right anglesto the blank on the yline of scoring 100. Thereafter, the blank and folding members 13 will be pushed to the position D of Fig. 1 which is the same as the position of Fig. 5. The fold line 100 will now lead and be squeezed between the rollers 23 and 24 to double the folded portion of the blank under as shown in Fig. l, and apply pressure to the parts to which glue has been applied.

As the blank emerges from the bite of the rollers 23 and 24, the leading edge, which is the fold line 100, will engage beneath the outer ends of the legs 114 of the second folding members 56, as shown in Fig. l, and will slide along underneath said legs. At the same time the folding members will be caused to move to the position E of Fig. l to cause breaking of the blank on the fold lines 101 and 99. Thereafter, the folded portion will be bent farther under as shown in Fig. 6 so that there are now multi-layers yof fold produced by the strips 11i), 111 and 112, and these layers `are then fed between the rollers 28 and 3b and then are held in folded condition by the bars 169. Thereafter, glue is applied by the gluing roller 51 to the exposed side of the strip 110 as shown in Fig. l, and the leading folded edge of the blank eventually passes into the U-shaped folding members 70, as shown in Fig. l. The movement of the blank causes the U-shaped members 70 and arms 68 to initially pivot on the shaft 67. Then as the box blank advances, the tension of the springs 166 until they reach their final position. Then the entire final folding mechanism rotates on the shaft 62, the four superimposed strips 109, 112, 111, and 11i) being folded beneath the upper portion of the end wall on the line 115, as is clear from Fig. 7, and then before the reinforced edge is released by the members 7i? it passes between the final pressing rollers 32 and 34, the last applied adhesive maintaining the final fold in position. As the trailing edge of each blank leaves the folding members 13, the spring 15 will return said folding members to the starting position of Fig. 3, the stop 17 contacting the shoulder 19 of Fig. 4. As the trailing edge of each blank leaves the folding members 56 the spring 59 will return said members to their starting position and, as the blank leaves the final folding members, the springs 64, 75 and 106 will return the various articulated parts to the full line positions of Fig. 1.

From the above it is apparent that a very simple machine has been provided wherein the blanks may be fed while in a position transverse of the direction of movement through the machine. With this arrangement the length of the machine is shortened substantially so that less fioor space is consumed. In addition, transverse feeding of the blanks makes it practical to fold the reinforcements of both end walls simultaneously.

lt is apparent that the novel folding members are foolproof in operation, and require no drives, the folding members being actuated only by the moving blanks, against the tension of springs which serve to return the folding members to starting position ready for the next blank.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such chang-es are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge, means for moving blanks through the machine with said edge leading, a folding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through a substantial arc and having a leg normally projecting in a first direction opposed to the direction of movement of an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading edge ofthe blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deiiected at an angle downwardly thereunder, the axis of pivot `for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, and the folding member being so positioned that it is rocked on its pivot under pressure of the blank from said first position where the blank engaged side of the leg faces downwardly to a position where the side of the leg Which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to release the blank, said blank being folded on its score line during said rocking movement of the folding member so that a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

2. ln an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from -an edge, means for moving blanks through the machine with said edge leading, a folding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through a substantial arc and having a rigid le normally projecting in a first direction opposed to the direction of movement of an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading edge of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deflected at an angle downwardly thereunder, the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, and the folding member being so positioned that it is rocked on its pivot under pressure of the blank from said first position where the blank engaged side of the leg faces downwardly to a position where the side of the leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to release the blank, and resilient means resisting said rocking movement of the folding member, said blank being folded on its score line during said rocking movement of the folding member so that a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

3. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge, means for moving blanks through the machine with said edge leading, a folding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through a substantial arc and having a leg normally projecting in a first direction opposed to the direction of movement of an approaching blank and extending at an an-gle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading edge of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deected at an angle downwardly thereunder, stop means on said folding member for limiting the movement of said leading edge, the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, the folding member being so positioned with respect to the line of travel of the blank that when the blank is stopped by said stop means pressure of the blank is exerted on the folding member to cause it to rock to a position where the side of the leg which is engaged by the blank faces at -an angle upwardly to release the blank, said blank being folded on its score line during said rocking movement of the folding member so that a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

4. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge, means for moving blanks through the machine with said edge leading, a folding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through a substantial arc and having a leg normally projecting in a first direction opposed to the direction of movement of an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading edge of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deflected at an angle downwardly thereunder, said folding member having a hooked portion at the inner end of said leg projecting beyond the pivot for the folding member and forming a stop for limiting the movement of said leading edge of the blank, the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of theblank, the

mangas folding member being so positioned with respect to the linef travel of theblank that when the blank is stopped by 'engagement'with said hooked portion pressure of the blank'is 'exerted on the folding member to cause it to rock to a position where` the side of the leg which is engaged by the blank 'faces at an angle upwardly to release the blank, said blank being foldable on its score line during saidrocking movement of the folding member so that a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

` 5. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge with said edge leading, means for moving blanks through the machine, a J-shaped folding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through a substantial arc and having a hooked portion with a closed end projecting beyond the pivot for the folding member and including a return bend portion with an end through which the axis of pivot extends and having a leg normally projecting in a first direction opposed to the direction of movement of an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading edge of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deflected at an angle downwardly thereunder, said hooked portion of the folding member forming a stop for Vlimiting the movement of said leading edge of the blank, and the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, the folding member being so positioned with respect to the line of travel of the blank that when the blank is stopped by said hooked portion pressure of the blank is exerted on the folding member to cause it to rock to a position where the side of the leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to release the blank, said blank being foldable on its score line during said rocking movement ofthe folding member so that -a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

6. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge with said edge leading, means for moving blanks through the machine, a J-shaped folding member pivotally mounted for yrocking movement through a substantial arc and having a hooked portion with a closed end projecting beyond the pivot for the folding member and including a return bend portion with an end through which the axis of pivot extends and having a leg normally projecting in a rst direction opposed to the direction of movement of an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path oftravel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading edge of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deliected atan angle downwardly thereunder, said hooked portion of the folding member forming a stop for limiting the movement of said leading edge of the blank, and the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, the folding member being so positioned with respect to the line of travel of the blank that when the blank is stopped by said hooked portion pressure of the blank is exerted on the folding member to cause it to rock toa position where the side of the leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to release the blank, and resilient means resisting said rocking movement of the folding member, said blank being foldable on its score line during said rocking movement of the 'folding member so that a folded edge leads after release frornthe folding member.

7. VIn an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank ona score line which is spaced inwardly from the leading portion of the blank, means for moving blanks through the machine, a pivotallymounted folding member having a leg normally projecting toward an approaching blank and extending atA an angle upwardly in the path of travel offthe blank; the pivot fory said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading portion of the blankfv'vill engage the underside of said leg and be deli'ected at an angle downwardly thereunder, said folding member having another'leg spaced from said first leg to define a blank receiving slot therebetween and said folding memberbeing rockable on its pivot under pressure ofthe blank to a position where the side of the first leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to provide for'release of the blank from said slot, said blank being foldable on said score line during said rocking movement of the folding member so that a newly folded edge leads after release from the foldin member.

8. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from the leading portion of the blank, means for moving blanks through the machine, a pivotally mounted folding member having a leg normally projecting toward an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading portion of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deflected at an angle downwardly thereunder, said folding member having uanother leg spaced from said first leg to define a blank receiving slot therebetween, said second leg having an outer portion which is mounted for yielding movement away from said first leg, and said folding member being rockable on its pivot under pressure of the blank to a position where the side of the first leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to provide for releasey of the blank from said slot, said blank being foldable on said score line during said rocking movement of the folding member so that a newly folded'edge leads after release from the folding member.

9. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line, means for moving blanks through the machine, means for applying glue to the underside of each blank, a pivotally mounted folding member having a leg normally projecting toward an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank so that the leading edge of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deliected at an angle downwardly thereunder, the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank so that the folding member is rockable on its pivot under pressure of the blank to a position where the side of the leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to release the blank, said blank beingv folded on its score line during rocking movement of the folding member, and pressing means beyond said folding member for completing said folding opera.- tion.

10. In an apparatus for making a second fold in a portion of a box blank which has previously been doubled underan edge to provide a double thickness, there being a score line in each thickness spaced inwardly from the edge of said double thickness portion, means for moving said blanks through the machine with said double thicknessportion leading, a pivotally mounted folding member having a leg normally projecting toward an approaching blank and extending at an angle upwardly in the path of travel of the blank, the pivot for said folding member being below said path of travel so that the leading double thickness portion of the blank will engage the underside of said leg and be deflected at an angle downwardly thereunder,` said folding member having another leg spaced from said firstleg to define a slot of a width to receive said double thickness portion of the blank therein, andsaid folding member being rockable on its pivot under pressure of the blank to a position where the side of the first leg which is engaged by the blank faces at an angle upwardly to provideffor release of the blank from saidV slot as the blank. continuesto travel, said blank 9 being foldable on said score lines during said rocking movement of the folding member to provide for four thicknesses of material.

l1. In an apparatus for additionally folding a thickened reinforced edge portion of a box blank, means for moving said blanks through the machine, a U-shaped folding member having an open end, a swingably mounted arm having an upper end pivotally connected to said folding member to support the latter with its open end normally in a position to receive the thickened reinforced edge of an approaching blank, said folding member and pivoted supporting arm therefor being pivotal under pressure of the moving blank to a position where the open end of the folding member faces in a reverse direction to provide for release of the blank, said reinforced edge of the blank being foldable under the blank during said rocking movement of the folding member and armV so that there is an extra fold.

l2. In an apparatus for additionally folding a thickened reinforced edge portion of a box blank, means for moving said blanks through the machine, a U-shaped folding member having an open end, a swingably mounted arm having an upper end pivotally connected to said folding member to support the latter with its open end normally in a position to receive the thickened reinforced edge of an approaching blank, said folding member and pivoted supporting arm therefor being pivotal under pressure of the moving blank to a position where the open end of the folding member faces in a reverse direction to provide for release of the blank, said reinforced edge of the blank being foldable under the blank during said rocking movement of the folding member and arm so that there is an extra fold, and pressing means positioned to receive said newly folded edge as it is being released from the folding member and prior to complete release.

i3. In an apparatus for additionally folding a thickened reinforced edge portion of a box blank, means for moving said blanks through the machine, means for applying glue to an exposed side of said reinforced edge, a U-shaped folding member having an open end, a swingably mounted arm having an upper end pivotally connected to said folding member to support the latter with its open end normally -in a position to receive the thickened reinforced edge of an approaching blank, said folding member and pivoted supporting arm therefor being pivotal under pressure of the moving blank to a position where the open end of the folding member faces in a reverse direction to provide for release of the blank, said reinforced edge of the blank being foldable under the blank during said rocking movement of the folding mehrl ber and arm so that there is an extra fold after release, and pressing rollers positioned to receive said newly folded edge.

14. In an apparatus for additionally folding a thickened reinforced edge portion of a box blank, means for moving said blanks through the machine, a U-shaped folding member having an open end, an upwardly projecting arm having an upper end pivotally connected to said folding member to support the latter with its open end normally in a position to receive the thickened reinforced edge of an approaching blank, and an additional arm pivotally mounted at one end to project in an opposite direction from the direction of movement of the blanks and having an outer end pivotally connected to the first arm in jackknife fashion, said folding member and pivoted supporting arms therefor being pivotal under pressure of the moving blank to a position where the open end of the folding member faces in a reverse direction to release the blank, said reinforced edge of the blank being foldable under the blank during said rocking movement of the folding member so that there is an extra fold.

l5. In an apparatus for additionally folding a thickened reinforced edge portion of a box blank, means for moving said blanks through the machine, a U-shaped folding member having an open end, an upwardly projecting arm having an upper end pivotally connected to said folding member to support the latter with its open end normally yieldingly maintained in a position to receive the thickened reinforced edge of an approaching blank, and an additional arm yieldingly pivotally mounted at one end to project in an opposite direction from the direction of movement of the blanks and having an outer end pivotally connected to the first arm in jackknife fashion, yielding means resisting jackknife movement of said rst arm relative to said second arm, said folding member and pivoted supporting arms therefor being pivotal under pressure of the moving blank to a position where the open end of the folding member faces in a reverse direction to release the blank, said reinforced edge of the blank being foldable under the blank during said rocking movement of the folding member so that there is an extra fold. v

16. In an apparatus for forming a multi-ply edge reinforcement on a blank having spaced parallel score lines progressively farther inwardlyV from the edge on which the several reinforcing strips are to be folded, means for moving blanks through the machine with the edge which is to be reinforced leading, means for folding the blank on the second score line from said edge to provide a portion of double thickness, means for holding half of said portion of double thickness under the other half on other score lines, and means for thereafter folding the previously folded portions underneath to create an additional thickness.

17. In an apparatus for forming a multi-ply edge reinforcement on a blank having spaced parallel score lines progressively farther inwardly from an edge on which the several reinforcing strips are to be folded, means for moving blanks through the machine, means for applying glue to the underside of said scored portion of the blank, means for folding the blank on the second score line lfrom the leading edge to provide a portion of double thickness, means for pressing said double thickness portion together, means for folding half of said portion of double thickness under the other half on other score lines, means for applying glue to the underside of said newly folded portion, means for thereafter folding the previously folded portions underneath to create an additional thickness, and final pressing means positioned to receive said folded portions.

18. In an apparatus for forming a multi-ply edge reinforcement on a blank having spaced parallel score lines progressively farther inwardly from an edge on which the several reinforcing strips are to be folded, means for moving blanks through the machine, oscillatory means for folding the blank on the second score line from the leading edge to provide a portion of double thickness, oscillatory means for folding half of said portion of double thickness under the other half on other score lines, oscillatory means for thereafter folding the previously folded portions underneath to create an additional thickness, and means including articulated levers for supporting said last oscillatory folding means.

19. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge, means for moving blanks through the machine with said edge leading, a folding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through an arc of substantial length and having a leg with a rst position normally extending obliquely in one direction from its pivot across the path of travel -of the blank with the general direction -of extent of the leg opposed to .the direction of movement of an approaching blank, the pivot for said folding member being offset from the path of -travel and so located that the leading edge of the blank will engage the inner side of said leg and be `deflected at an angle out of its line `of travel, the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, and the folding member being so positioned and mounted that it is rocked on its pivot und-er pressure of the :blank from a position Where the blank engaged side of said leg faces in one general direction to a position where said side of the leg faces in a generally reverse direction to `release the yblank with the leg extending obliquely in a generally opposite direction from its rst position, said blank being folded on its score line during said rocking movement of the folding member so that a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

20. In an apparatus for folding a portion of a box blank on a score line which is spaced inwardly from an edge, means for moving blanks through the machine with said edge leading, a fol-ding member pivotally mounted for rocking movement through an arc of substantial length and having a le(y with a rst position normally extending obliquely in one direction from its pivot across the path of travel of the blank with the general direction of extent of the le7 opposed to the direction of movement of anapproaching blank, lthe pivot for said folding member being offset from the path of travel and so located that the leading edge of the blank Will engage inner side of said leg and -be deflected at an angle out of its line of travel, the axis of pivot for said folding member being transverse of the direction of movement of the blank, and the folding member being so positioned and mounted that it is rocked approximately 90 on its pivot under pressure of the blank from a position Where the blank engaged side of said leg faces in one general direc tion to a position where said side of the leg faces in a generally reverse direction to release the blank with the leg extending obliquely in a generally opposite direction from its first position, said blank being folded on its score line during said rocking movement of 'the folding member so that a folded edge leads after release from the folding member.

2l. In an apparatus for additionally folding a thickened reinforced edge portion of a box blank, means for moving said blanks through the machine, a U-shaped folding member having an open end, a svvingably mounted arm having an outer end pivotally connected to said folding member to support the latter when it is open and normally in a position to receive the thickened reinforced edge of an approaching'blank, said folding member and pivoted supporting arm therefor being pivotal under pressure of the moving blank to a position where the open end of the folding member faces in a reverse direction to provide for release of the blank, said reinforced edge of the blank being folda'ble with respect to the blank during said rocking movement of the folding member and arm so that there is an extra fold.

22. In an apparatus for making a second fold in a portion of a box blank which has previously been doubled under an edge to provide a double thickness, there being a score line in each thickness spaced inwardly from the edgey of said double thickness portion, means for moving said bianks'through the machine with said double thickness portion leading, a pivotally mounted folding me, ber having a leg with a first position normally extending obliquely in one direction from its pivot across the path of travel of the' blank, fthe pivot for said folding member being offset from vsaid path of travel so that the leading double thickness portionof the blank will engage the inner `sideof said legand be deected at an angle out of its line of travel, said folding member having another leg spaced from said first leg to define a slot of a Width to receive said double thickness portion of the blank therein, and said folding member being rockable on its pivot under pressure of the blank to a position Where the side of the rst leg which yis engaged by the blank faces in a generally reverse direction to release tl e blank from said slot as the blank continues to travel with the leg extending obliquely in a generally opposite direction from its rst position, said blank being foldable on said score lines during said rocking movement of the folding member to provide for four thicknesses of material.

Andre `Au 1953 

